Venezuela Earthquake: Death Toll Nears 1,000, Over 50,000 Still Missing

Published 27 June 2026 · general

Venezuela Earthquake: Death Toll Nears 1,000, Over 50,000 Still Missing Published By, Last Updated: June 27, 2026, 13:49 IST Venezuela’s twin earthquakes have claimed 920

Venezuela Earthquake: Death Toll Nears 1,000, Over 50,000 Still Missing Published By, Last Updated: June 27, 2026, 13:49 IST Venezuela’s twin earthquakes have claimed 920 lives, while over 50,000 people remain missing. Civilians continue rescue efforts as global teams and aid arrive. Rapid Read Emergency services work at the site of a collapsed building after an earthquake, in Caracas, Venezuela. REUTERS/Gaby Oraa The twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on Wednesday have turned into one of the country’s deadliest natural disasters in more than a century. As rescue operations continue across the affected regions, the death toll has risen to 920, while more than 50,000 people remain missing. International rescue teams have begun arriving, but many survivors have stepped in to search for loved ones amid complaints over delays in the official response. The back-to-back earthquakes, measuring magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, caused widespread destruction across Caracas and nearby areas. Authorities said 172 people are still trapped beneath collapsed structures, while 3,360 others have been injured. Residents Lead Rescue Efforts Even as humanitarian assistance reaches Venezuela from around the world, many residents say help has been slow to reach the hardest-hit neighbourhoods. In several locations, survivors have organised themselves into search teams, digging through debris with their hands and basic equipment in the hope of finding those still trapped.

“I am looking for my little Gael… he was only five months old," Marjosly Salazar, 40, told AFP. Her 16-year-old daughter was among those killed in the earthquake, while the infant and her cousin remain unaccounted for. “Please, we need support here. We need machinery to start lifting the columns. We haven’t seen any government officials here, none at all," she said. Disaster response experts say the first 48 to 72 hours after a major earthquake offer the highest chances of rescuing survivors. After that window, survival becomes increasingly unlikely unless those trapped have access to food and water. “Unfortunately, the collapse is total, and there is little chance of finding survivors. Efforts are now focused on recovering the bodies of the deceased," rescue team leader Nadiomar Polanco told AFP while working at a collapsed residential complex in La Guaira, the state worst affected by the disaster. On Friday night, authorities further restricted access to the disaster zone, saying uncontrolled traffic, crowds and noise were affecting rescue work. Officials said only those with permits would be allowed to enter, although no details were provided on how such permits could be obtained. As the humanitarian crisis deepens, long queues have formed outside grocery stores, pharmacies and food trucks as people scramble for basic supplies.